To the bloke from Taiwan

To the bloke from Taiwan whose stem cells I am getting, I don’t know who you are or what possessed you to get on the registry, but a big THANK YOU!

Your selfless act has given me a 2nd chance in life to spend with my little girl and my wife. 🙂 If everyone is as selfless as you in getting on the registry, Leukemia will not be the feared disease that it is today.

Speaking of which, I would like to encourage everyone to get on the stem cell registry in the country you’re in. Or if you can’t get your friends and relatives to do it. Getting on the registry is easy. You fill in a form and give a sample; nothing more complicated than a mouth swab for some DNA. The DNA is analysed and broken down at a superficial level and entered into the database. Depending on the country you’re in, this database is accessible worldwide.

When someone needs stem cells, the relevant people will conduct a search on the database and if you’re a match, they’ll request a blood sample. This is where they will be able to tell if you’re a full match to the recipient or not. But getting on the database if the first step. I’ve heard that there are many many independent and national databases worldwide, but they’re mainly in Western countries. Hence they carry the stem cell data for mainly white people. There’s a severe shortage of stem cell data for other ethnicities (Chinese, Indian, African, etc).

There should be several registries in the country you’re living in. Check with your local Leukemia or Lymphoma centre and they will be able to point you in the right direction. Or Google it.

Getting on it doesn’t cost anything, and if you’re a match, you can save someone’s life.

I join my son to convey our family’s thanks and gratitude to the donor of the stem cells. We were at the wit’s end when all the sibling’s blood do not match for a transplant. Then came then came this wonderful news that your stem cells give a perfect match.

I am really very touched for your generosity and caring attitude. I am not eligible t family o register as a donor but I will do my best to encourage the rest of my family members and friends and relatives to register as a donor.

Again, our thanks and gratitude to and we will pray for you and your love ones.